In a significant move, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Saturday agreed to link four schemes of the Karnataka government to Aadhaar cards to be issued in 21 districts from October this year. After a meeting between UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani and state Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar at ‘Krishna’, the CM’s home office, it has been informed that Nilekani was open to Shettar’s suggestion to make Aadhaar card an eligilibility criterion for issuing ration cards, pension schemes, scholarship schemes and housing schemes.
The Aadhaar card will reduce duplication and optimise distribution of benefits to targeted beneficiaries and minimize scope for fraud. The UIDAI will launch its phase-II operation of issuance of Aadhaar cards from October in 21 districts in the state. The source also pointed out that Nilekeni was not happy with the progress in distribution of Aadhaar cards in Dharwad district which is one of the three prominent districts identified for the launch of pilot project in the state. There has been enrolments in Mysore and Tumkur districts, which have achieved 95 and 93 per cent of enrolments, respectively.
As many as 1.41 crore people were covered under the Aadhaar enrolment programme in the state and remaining will be covered in a phased manner. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Shettar assured that the State will extend full co-operation to the Aadhaar programme.
